Which property would you buy? Great Shelford or Hauxton

[Whirlaway]

DH is staring a new a job in Cambridge near the main train station, and I'm a SAHM; 8yo DD has a place at Sancton Wood school in September.

We're partial to new builds though ideally by smaller firms. Which semi-detached house would you pick?

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-61686807.html (£625k, 3-bed semi, relatively ok cycling distance to city centre and shops/amenities/Shelford train station in walking distance)

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-80905523.html (£625k, 4-bed detached but further out from Cambridge and I think fewer amenities that are closer)

What does everyone think of the larger developments like Trumpington Meadows, Aura, Ninewells and Redrow Homes (Sanderson Manor)?

Is it the case that the land under Sanderson Manor was contaminated with chemicals from the factory that was on it before?

Does this article about Trumpington being a 'dumping ground for problem families' ring true? (www.cambridgeindependent.co.uk/news/trumpington-is-dumping-ground-for-problem-families-says-county-councillor-9072195/)

We have been around all the above and all neighbourhoods appear quiet and nice.

The great shelford house. The location is better than hauxtin and the house is nicer.

Lay out of Great Helford house is much better

Why not live closer to Cambridge?

I don't read a serious problem in that article, by the way. You won't be using the primary school she talks about. 40% social housing is a good thing, not a bad one. I hear a councillor trying to get people to treat her community as if it's important.

Great Shelford. You’ll be such an easy stroll from the train station and not a bad cycling distance either, you jammy things.

Great Shelford - fantastic location, lovely place to live and great for the station.

Great Shelford. I've always been a bit iffy about the Hauxton development, I know I know they said they decontaminated the land.... but there were serious chemicals stored underground there.. mmmm

Also Great Shelford is lovely

Thanks all! Great Shelford does look like a fantastic location. I might be popping into the nearby garden centre a lot...

I also saw some houses in the Queen Edith (?) area with nice outdoor space but they seem more expensive and older.

leaf, we thought about living closer to the city centre but the houses and gardens get smaller and more expensive. Plus it's nice (I think) to head out of the city a bit to go home, and Great Shelford seems close but not right in the thick of things.

I have heard about cars being broken into, drug problems, burglars lurking caught on private CCTV, and ASBO incidents in general in the Trumpington and Great Kneighton areas (from DH's colleagues on a Facebook group called 'Trumpington Neighbours Help Me Out'), which is why the news article interested me. I don't think it's a war zone by any means, but as someone buying property and deciding where to live I want to know as much as I can about different neighbourhoods.

Personally I wouldn't buy in Trumpington (the new estates). Mainly because I hate the boxy Commercial look of the houses.